How in the world do I take it off??
71 fj55 dash
- Thread starter smplunkett
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
There are nuts behind the dash that grab studs molded into the dash. Wait, what exactly are you trying to take off? The padding, the gauges, or what? I'm sure someone has the 411 you need, but I think it may take a bit more of a description of what you're trying to accomplish to give a direct answer.
- Thread starter
- #3
the dash pad - above the gauges and glove box
Maybe I speak out of place as mine is a 77, but if I remember right, there are nuts that are under the dash. There are studs molded into the padded dash cover. Find and remove the nuts and it should come off. In mine there was 1 stud in the center and 2 more in each direction across the top, evenly spaced, and I think there were one each down lower on the sides. Hope that helps.
You need to remove the instrument cluster(pad and gauges), the glove box(door and inner section) so you can "blindly" remove around 5 nuts that are stuffed up under the dash(a TINY socket with extension works well...10mm?). It takes a little dexterity and patience. It also requires that you remove the emblem plate and tailgate switch. There are 2 screws at the bottom of the dashpad's "horns" and a handful of clips that pop out as well. It is a PIA, but once you've done it a couple times, it is not so bad. Good luck.
Yep, like everyone has said, remove the nuts under the dash.
Be CAREFUL, early dashpads are RARE.
We are working on a dash cap for the early dash pad though.
We are working on a dash cap for the early dash pad though.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks for all the help - I'll let you know how it works!! - suzanne
Hey Charles, who is working on that. I am just curious as I will eventually need one of those.
Yep, I talked to the guy about that yesterday. They are finishing up a Land Rover dash and then they will move onto the older '55 dash cap.
The cost should be in the $100 range.
The cost should be in the $100 range.
FineWynsFJ40
Too much to do...
Perfect! I called a couple companies a few months ago about it, and was ready to send my dash wherever it needed to go, but no companies here in the US wanted to take the job. Glad we've hopefully tracked down a source!
Wow only 100? That is gonna be great. Good deal.
Watch for the dash cap in the "Pig Parts Group" forum. If you're not a member of that section of 'mud then ask. It's open to all the "pig farmers"!
It'll be here https://forum.ih8mud.com/pig-parts-group/259806-early-dash-cap.html when it's ready.
Remember this is a dash cap NOT the full on replacement padded dash.
It'll be here https://forum.ih8mud.com/pig-parts-group/259806-early-dash-cap.html when it's ready.
Remember this is a dash cap NOT the full on replacement padded dash.
What exactly is "early" for a dash cap? Did they change in '73?
Yes, they changed around that time. The "early" dash cap kind of surrounds part of the upper dash. If you look at my build thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-...potm-cruiser-guy-guatemala-2.html#post2751615 you can see what a later dash cap looks like. If your's doesn't match this then it's the "old" style.
FineWynsFJ40
Too much to do...
Mine doesn't look like that. Mine looks worse! 
This is the area, outlined in red, which changes from the old to new dash.
